Bait holder or harness



Aug. 21, 1935. c, HOAG 2,012,786

BAIT HOLDER-OR HARNESS Filed Nov. 9, 1954 Patented Aug. 27, 1935 ta ent} Clyde 0. Hoage, Tower, Minn. Application November 9, 1934, Serial No. 752,351

8 Claims.

This invention relates to fishing tackle and more particularly to a bait holder or harness for live minnows It is an object of my invention to provide an improved bait holder adapted to securely hold live minnows of different sizes without injury and in such a manner as to permit relatively free movement of the minnow while it is securely held in desired relationship with a fish hook.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple and easy to apply and which does not require hooking or mutilation of the minnow.

Figs. 4, 5 and. 6 are similar views of a modi- ,fication;

Referring to the drawing, the bait holder or harness is shown in association with a fish hook lll'having a shank portion ll adapted to be" attached to a fishing line in the usual mamier.

One or more wires or cross bars I! are secured to the shankportion of the fish hook in such a manner as to provide a cradle to receive the minnow- Obviously this cradle may be constructed in many ways, as for example integral with the fish hook |0., g

In order to securely hold'the minnow upon the shank portion of the fish hook ID, the clamping member I3 is provided-said clampingmemher being pivoted at the point 14 to' the fish hook. l3 isbiased toward the shank portion of the fish hook by a spring 15. The free end of the clamping member is provided with two spaced wings or ears l6 shaped to conform to the body portion of the minnow and to fit in the gills as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The minnow is shown in dotted lines in the drawing in order to illustrate how the clamping member I3 is operative to hold the minnow without injury and without restraining the movements thereof by reason of the engagement of the wing portions I6 behind the gills. I

The strength of the spring I5 is merely sufficient to hold the minnow upon the cradle formed by the bars I! and since the minnow is wedged between the wing portions "5 of the The free end of the clamping member clamping member and thus held against lengthwise .or sidewise movement with respect to the i fish hook, the spring I 5 may be comparatively light and functions properly even when weakened by continued exposure in use.

The mounting and arrangement of the'clamping member I3 may be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention, and as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the clamping 10 member may be employed with various forms of fishing tackle. As shown in these figures, a double fish hook l8 employed of such shape as to eliminate the necessityfor the cross bars l2. The clamping member l9, substantially similar to clamping member l3. in the embodiment shown in. Figures 1, 2 and 3 is, pivotedat the point 20 to the fish hook I 8. The clamping member l9 is urged towards the fish hook I 8 by, a

spring 2|. In this modification the points of) the fish hook l8 are bent upwardlys'o as to embrace the body of the minnow and thereby cooperate tohold the same while not preventing the v necessary freedom of movement so that the minnow simulates a free minnow.

Various other modifications of the construction I 1' shown and described above for purposes of illustration may be made Without departing'from the lying the shank portion thereof, said clamping member being provided with spaced wing portions adapted to fit into the gills of the minnow.

2. A bait holder or harness for minnows comprising a fish hook, and an adaptable clamping member pivoted transversely thereon, said clampscope of my invention as defined in the appended ingmember being provided with spaced wing portions adapted to fit into the gills of a minnow; l I 3. In a bait holder or'harness'for minnows or f the like, spaced sheet metal clamping members transversely curved to conform to the shape of d the minnow and adapted to fit into its'gills;

4. A bait holder or harness for minnows comprising a fish hook, cross members on said hook forming a cradle, a clamping member transversely pivoted to said hook with the free end thereof overlying said cross members, and a spring biasing the clamping member towards said cross members.

5. A bait holder or harness for minnows comprising a double pointed fish hook constructed to in the gills of the minnow, g

6. In a bait holder or harness for minnows or the like, a clamping member having transverse bearings and extensions adapted to engage the gills of the minnow, the clamping member being adapted tobepivotally mounted ona'transverse axis on the. shank of a hook.

7. A bait holder or harness for minnows cornprising a frame adapted to form a cradle for the body of the minnow and having a. fish hook projecting outwardly therefrom. and 'a clamping member pivoted transversely on said frame and provided with spaced clamping. elements forming ourvedwing-portions adapted to fit into the gills of the minnow.

8. A bait holder or harness for minnows comprising a frame adapted to form a cradle for the body of the minnow, said cradle having two pairs of upwardly extending prongs and said frame having a fish hook projecting outwardly therefrom and a clamping member pivoted on said frame andprovided with spaced clamping elements movable between the pairs of prongs and forming curved wing-portions adapted to fit into the gills of the minnow.

r l 2 CLYDE C. HOAGE. 

